The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Jealousy

Saint Letty.

She was presently crying out in joy.

Letty hastily knelt down.

And with a sincere heart, one she hadn’t felt in a while, offered a prayer to Leah, whom she served.

“Thank you!!!”

Her heart thumped continuously, overwhelmed by surging emotions.

The reason she was like this, now.

It was because of the prophecy that had just been delivered.

Not just any ordinary prophecy.

“At last, Leah is answering my heart.”

The position of the Hero, which she so desperately desired.

It was a prophecy concerning that.

Moreover, it wasn’t a roundabout statement, but a remarkably direct piece of information.

The Saint was currently in the Holy Kingdom of Heibis.

According to the prophecy, the kingdom located to the left of Heibis.

The Kingdom of Detiosque.

If she waited in the capital of that place, the prophecy said she would meet the Hero.

“I wonder what kind of person they will be!”

Filled with anticipation, the Saint began to prepare to depart for the Kingdom of Detiosque.

*

Lilly, dragging her exhausted body, sat on the edge of the inn bed.

And then, just like that, Lilly lay back on the bed, only her upper body visible.

Lilly recalled the events that had just transpired.

‘He was strong.’

Lilly had observed Arthos’s performance.

He was strong.

He had grown, retaining his former self, yet possessed a different strength.

To Lily’s eyes, Arthas shone, as if bathed in light.

Like a knight from the fairy tales she once admired.

That’s how he felt.

‘But something’s strange.’

Arthas’s successes.

They didn’t sit well with Lily.

‘He needs me…’

Lily had intended to return, successful, and be there to greet Arthas.

But now, Arthas didn’t necessarily need her.

He was already someone who had made his own way in the world.

What’s more, wasn’t he a prospective fiancé from a noble family?

Objectively, there was a woman who was a much better match for him.

Lily wished, just a little, that the woman’s personality was awful.

But-.

‘Get behind me!!!’

Lily, caught off guard by a golem that suddenly appeared, taking a blow.

While she was unable to regain her footing.

Asia was trying to protect everyone, Lily included.

Simply put, a good woman who cared for others.

Lily wondered what she would have done in her place.

“If I had been that woman…!”

I would have done the same.

Lily muttered the words to herself.

But the result remained unchanged.

It was Lily who had fallen, and Asia who had protected the others.

The conclusion: Arthas’s fiancé was from a good family and had a good heart.

Lily reached that conclusion.

And a powerful energy began to infuse her eyes.

“No…! Not Arthas Oppa…!!!”

An emotion so intense it was unbearable.

It surged from the depths of Lily’s being.

The fear of losing Arthas.

Lily was gradually losing control of her emotions.

She immediately stood up.

And-.

“I have to meet Asia.”

Lily hesitated.

What should she say when they met?

But – Lily sensed a strange premonition.

Just like before.

A feeling bloomed, the kind that suggested a simple conversation would untangle everything.

A crescent moon formed at the corners of Lily’s mouth.

Lily, smiling.

And yet, that smile of Lily’s felt profoundly unsettling.

*

“I would prefer it if you refrained from such actions in the future!”

Inside the inn.

Bertnia, the commander, said this to Asia, who stood before her.

After Asia had gone to the quarry.

Bertnia had spent a considerable time, restless with worry.

Melia, beside her, had felt much the same.

“Understood.”

“You always say that, but you never truly listen!”

Bertnia, scolding.

Melia, however, watched her with a sullen expression.

“Commander Bertnia, you’re not exactly in a position to say such things, are you?”

Bertnia visibly faltered at Melia’s sudden interjection.

Asia turned to Melia, questioning.

“Huh? Melia, what do you mean? What makes you say she’s not in a position to say that?”

“Well, Commander Bertnia, you see… instead of simply waiting for you, she was out there, flirting with men! So, it turns out I’m the only one who was truly concerned about you, Lady Asia.”

“Is that true? Commander Bertnia…!”

Asia narrowed her eyes, glaring at Bertnia.

Flirting with men while she was suffering.

A feeling of resentment stirred within Asia.

Bertnia cleared her throat, offering a string of excuses.

“It… it couldn’t be helped.”

“Couldn’t be helped? What couldn’t?”

“You know about my…constitution, Lady Asia, don’t you?”

Asia briefly pondered Bertnia’s constitution.

Bertnia’s physique was not muscular.

And yet, she wielded immense strength.

And that was…

“Because of your aptitude, yes?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Asia knew a little about Bertnia’s aptitude.

But she had never heard the specifics.

“Well, there are truly minor aptitudes, you know, the kind that don’t interfere with daily life.”

“What does that mean? It sounds like you’re implying that having an aptitude *does* interfere with daily life?”

Asia’s observation was sharp.

Bertnia, the division leader, nodded, acknowledging the point.

“Indeed. Powerful abilities come with a price. Usually, it’s a flaw in the personality.”

“A flaw in the personality?”

“I gained immense strength, but at the cost of an insatiable desire. One that I can barely control myself.”

“Oh-.”

Asia recalled hearing that story before.

“Well… mine is lust, but others with strong abilities likely carry personality issues as well. Even if they grew up unaware of their power, the moment they realize their potential, that flaw will erupt.”

“Uh…”

Asia decided to forgive Division Leader Bertnia’s excuse, just this once.

However—

“If that’s the case, and we started around the same time, how do you explain Bertnia-ssi not catching up to us?”

Asia brought up the past.

“That was… also because of the ability…”

“You couldn’t even restrain yourself for that short of a time? Don’t lie!”

That was the truth.

Division Leader Bertnia, eager for a brief respite, had simply neglected the mission.

Regardless of the ability.

Just as Asia was pressing Bertnia,

Tok-. Tok-.

A knock came at the door.

Melia stepped forward to ask,

“Who is it?”

“It’s Lily. I need to talk to Asia-ssi for a moment.”

Asia pondered the reason for Lily’s visit.

It wasn’t likely to become friendly.

Asia couldn’t quite guess the motive.

Asia opened the door, welcoming Lily.

“Why are you looking for me?”

Lily’s expression seemed grave.

“Let’s go somewhere else to talk.”

“Hmm… alright.”

It was a seriousness Asia had never seen before, so she agreed to Lily’s proposal.

And so, Asia followed Lily out of the inn.

*

Lily led her to an alleyway right behind the inn.

Seeing the rather dirty scene of the alley, Asia remarked,

“Let’s talk at a cafe or something.”

But Lily didn’t even acknowledge Asia’s suggestion.

With her head lowered, Lily began to speak,

“I come from an alley like this. Yes, I know. It’s a truly insignificant origin.”

Suddenly, Lily contorted her face as if punishing herself.

Asia couldn’t say a word.

“…”

“Even now, I possess nothing. Everything is someone else’s. Even the Crimson Flame Mercenaries belong to my foster father.”

Asia watched Lily’s expression, the way she was presenting these abruptly unveiled truths.

She looked… incomplete.

She looked… unstable.

She looked dangerous.

Asia took a step back from Lily.

“But there was one thing that was truly mine. No, that’s not quite right. Someone who would have been mine. Yes, I mean Arthas, dearest brother.”

Lily raised her head.

And met Asia’s gaze as she spoke.

“So please, I beg you, just give him up.”

At that very moment, an intense crimson energy emanated from Lily’s eyes.

And the energy flowed towards Asia.

Asia was startled, but as the red aura touched her, her expression became vacant.

Asia’s lips moved as if trying to say something.

Lily watched Asia’s changed appearance.

She smiled then.

‘Ah… I was special after all.’

She had been aware of it for some time now.

That her words possessed the power to control others.

Of course, it was a useless power against a Sword Master like Lord Ailer.

But Lord Ailer had been exposed to this power for a long time.

And so, Lord Ailer had become the father figure Lily wanted.

‘It was all because of my power.’

That’s what Lily believed.

Her father, the comrades in the Crimson Flame Mercenaries.

They all loved her because of her power.

As that thought took hold, a powerful emotion churned within Lily’s heart.

‘Yes. I am a person who has nothing. Neither then, nor now. So… Arthas, dearest brother, could end up liking this woman instead of me.’

Lily glared at Asia, her lips moved again.

Just asking her to give up wasn’t enough.

And so, at the moment Lily was about to inflict ‘death’ upon her rival.

“…Stop, Lily.”

Behind Lily,

at the entrance of the alleyway Asia and Lily had entered, Arthas stopped Lily.